Primary Stress and Secondary Beats — C2 English Pronunciation Practice Test
About this practice test
Practise C2 English pronunciation: separate the primary stressed syllable from secondary beats in complex longer words.
What you’ll practice
Hear the difference
Recognise vowel and consonant contrasts in clear recordings.
Stress and rhythm
Identify strong syllables and emphasized words.
Listen and review
Replay each recording and learn from answer explanations.
What to expect:
8 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- C2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Single choice
How to approach this practice
Read the instructions and work through the questions before opening the answers.
Recording 1
Read the transcript
insubordination
Recording 2
Read the transcript
misunderstanding
Recording 3
Read the transcript
misinterpret
Recording 4
Read the transcript
unconventional
Recording 5
Read the transcript
reconsider
Recording 6
Read the transcript
superimpose
Recording 7
Read the transcript
disproportionate
Recording 8
Read the transcript
misapplication
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the word. Which syllable carries the main stress?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- First syllable
- Second syllable
- Third syllable
- Fourth syllable
- Fifth syllable
- Sixth syllable
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Fifth syllable
“insubordination” has 6 syllables: in–sub–or–di–NA–tion. The main stress is on the fifth syllable. An earlier syllable may have secondary stress; choose the strongest beat.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the word. Which syllable carries the main stress?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- First syllable
- Second syllable
- Third syllable
- Fourth syllable
- Fifth syllable
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Fourth syllable
“misunderstanding” has 5 syllables: mis–un–der–STAND–ing. The main stress is on the fourth syllable. An earlier syllable may have secondary stress; choose the strongest beat.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the word. Which syllable carries the main stress?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- First syllable
- Second syllable
- Third syllable
- Fourth syllable
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Third syllable
“misinterpret” has 4 syllables: mis–in–TER–pret. The main stress is on the third syllable. An earlier syllable may have secondary stress; choose the strongest beat.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the word. Which syllable carries the main stress?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- First syllable
- Second syllable
- Third syllable
- Fourth syllable
- Fifth syllable
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Third syllable
“unconventional” has 5 syllables: un–con–VEN–tion–al. The main stress is on the third syllable. An earlier syllable may have secondary stress; choose the strongest beat.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the word. Which syllable carries the main stress?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- First syllable
- Second syllable
- Third syllable
- Fourth syllable
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Third syllable
“reconsider” has 4 syllables: re–con–SID–er. The main stress is on the third syllable. An earlier syllable may have secondary stress; choose the strongest beat.
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Question 6 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the word. Which syllable carries the main stress?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- First syllable
- Second syllable
- Third syllable
- Fourth syllable
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Fourth syllable
“superimpose” has 4 syllables: su–per–im–POSE. The main stress is on the fourth syllable. An earlier syllable may have secondary stress; choose the strongest beat.
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Question 7 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the word. Which syllable carries the main stress?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- First syllable
- Second syllable
- Third syllable
- Fourth syllable
- Fifth syllable
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Third syllable
“disproportionate” has 5 syllables: dis–pro–POR–tion–ate. The main stress is on the third syllable. An earlier syllable may have secondary stress; choose the strongest beat.
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Question 8 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the word. Which syllable carries the main stress?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- First syllable
- Second syllable
- Third syllable
- Fourth syllable
- Fifth syllable
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Fourth syllable
“misapplication” has 5 syllables: mis–ap–pli–CA–tion. The main stress is on the fourth syllable. An earlier syllable may have secondary stress; choose the strongest beat.
What to review next
Review the feedback and revisit the topics you found difficult before trying again.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.